2021 Kia Sedona Review

Kia Sedona SX Passenger Minivan Exterior. SXL Shown.

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2021 Kia Sedona Review

byCameron Rogers^{Manager, News
Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at Edmunds include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).}

Pros

Distinctive SUV-like cockpit design
Lots of features for the money
Pleasantly quiet cabin at highway speeds

Cons

Slightly less cargo capacity than in rivals
Busy ride over rough pavement and large bumps

What's new

The L trim level has been discontinued
Part of the third Sedona generation introduced for 2015

Overview

While three-row SUVs are very popular, you still can't beat a minivan for family hauling duties. Power-sliding rear doors make minivans a cinch for kids to get in and out, and a deep cargo well behind the third-row seat gives you space for securing and hauling extra cargo. The 2021 Kia Sedona builds on top of these traditional minivan strengths with expressive styling and a pleasant interior.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Kia Sedona LX 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$211/mo

$224/mo

Avg. Midsize Minivan

Calculate my fuel costs

Even though this Sedona dates back a few years — it was last redesigned for 2015 — Kia's minivan stacks up well against newer rivals. The overall impression of the cabin is one of quality and comfort, with nicely textured plastics, soft leather and ample seat cushioning. The Sedona also has one of the most intuitive infotainment systems around, plus a full complement of advanced driving aids available on mid-trim models. Buyers on a budget should also be satisfied with its competitive pricing. While the Chrysler Voyager is less expensive overall, the price for the Sedona's mix of features can't be beat.

While the Sedona doesn't have any fatal flaws, it does have a slightly rougher ride and a little less cargo space than competitors. We also expect a fully redesigned Sedona to come out next year. If you're looking for the most up-to-date minivan, you might want to wait for Kia to pull the wraps off the redesigned version.

What's it like to live with?

This version of the Kia Sedona debuted in 2015. Edmunds added one to our fleet for a one-year test that covered more than 20,000 miles. We liked the Sedona, though it lagged behind competitors in some areas, especially fuel economy. Kia has since made some improvements, but most of our observations from that test still apply to the 2021 Sedona.

Which Sedona does Edmunds recommend?

The LX is attractively priced, but its list of equipment is pretty basic. The next-level EX is our preferred trim because it adds a wealth of features and upgrades for a reasonable price bump. You can also add the EX Premium package if you want more goodies without springing for the top-trim SX.

2021 Kia Sedona models

The 2021 Kia Sedona minivan comes in three trim levels — LX, EX and SX — all of which come standard with eight-passenger seating. Under the hood is a 3.3-liter V6 engine (276 horsepower, 248 pound-feet of torque) that drives the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

LX
Standard features for the base Sedona LX include:

17-inch alloy wheels
Automatic headlights
Power-adjustable driver's seat
A 7-inch touchscreen
A six-speaker audio system
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration

EX
The EX adds a bunch of features and costs just a bit more than the LX. Its upgrades include:

18-inch wheels
Roof rails
Keyless entry and ignition
Remote-controlled sliding rear doors
Rear sunshades
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Heated front seats
Leather upholstery
Three charge-only USB ports
A wireless charging pad
Front and rear parking sensors (alerts you to obstacles that may not be visible behind or in front of the vehicle when parking)
Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane is in your blind spot)
Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while in reverse)

The EX Premium package bridges the gap between the EX and range-topping SX. Features on this package include:

Heated and power-folding mirrors
Chrome exterior trim
A sunroof
A hands-free liftgate
An auto-dimming rearview mirror
Tri-zone automatic climate control
Driver memory settings
Four-way power lumbar adjustment for driver's seat
A power-adjustable passenger's seat
A 110-volt household-style power outlet
Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Sedona and the car in front)

SX
The SX is the most luxe Sedona available. Starting with the EX's contents, it adds:

EX Premium package
LED headlights
A noise-reducing windshield
Selectable drive modes
A heated steering wheel
Ventilated front seats
An 8-inch touchscreen
Voice recognition
A navigation system
An eight-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system
360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Sedona and its surroundings for tight parking situations)

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4/5Above Average

#4 out of 14 among Minivans

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Kia Sedona from 2008-2022.}

$467/yr

vs. $549/yr
for Average Minivan

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

1.11x/yr

vs. 1.47x/yr
for Average Minivan

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

11.4%

vs. 12.5%
for Average Minivan

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Kia Sedona.

5 (51%)

4 (17%)

3 (15%)

2 (12%)

1 (5%)

4.0

41 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 41 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

KIA Sedona is a fabulous vehicle

Peter Beinetti, 12/21/2016

2017 Kia Sedona SX Limited 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 6A)

Reviews complain about gas mileage, but I don't know why. My wife and I took an 8000 mile road trip and got 24.5 mpg -- loaded with people and luggage. The last two days we took a 400 mile road trip and we got 26.7 mpg. We were in the mountains on the 8000 mile trip and I used the manual shifting a lot. No manual shifting on the Pacifica, which we compared with the Sedona before we … bought it. Sedona handles extremely well with a very good turning radius. Pacifica about 3 feet larger radius. We test drove both and the smaller Sedona radius was obvious. Dash layout on the Sedona is well thought out, and attractive. The nav system is the best I've ever used, by far. Vehicle is extremely quiet, and tracks perfectly on the interstate. It's quick -- I saw car magazine reports that rated it at 7.4 seconds 0-60. That's fast for a large vehicle. I keep saying vehicle because it looks and acts more like an SUV than a minivan. Nappa leather is great, airplane type second row seats are a true luxury. Dual sun roof really lets the light inside. I've driven the Pacifica, Odyssey and Sienna -- I think the Sedona is the best vehicle. Update to my review one year later: I still think the Sedona SXL is a great vehicle. We have over 16,000 miles on it, and have had no problems. We are currently on a 12,000 mile road trip around the USA, with about 3,000 miles completed. Average MPG so far on the trip is 24.7. Handling on the interstate continues to be perfect, ride is excellent. No complaints whatsoever. It is now January 2018 and we have 28,500 miles on the Sedona. Our 12,000 mile trip ended up to be 12,600 miles, and we averaged 24.5 mpg. I can't figure out why the Sedona is rated low on gas mileage, I think it's fabulous. So far we have had zero problems. I've never had a car before, with over 28,000 miles on it, that didn't have something go wrong. It still rides great, and handles well. I thought our 12,600 miles trip would be very tiring. It turned out to be just the opposite. The Sedona is comfortable, and easy to drive. Lots of power, no problems in CA keeping up, or passing, on the freeways. The last car I had, a 2015 SUV, had what I call 'high effort' steering. It made for very tiresome driving. On our Sedona we can choose between two different steering efforts. I'm 78 years old and it's a joy to drive the car. Update July 2018. We are on another road trip, so far 4400 miles. Again, the Sedona has performed perfectly. MPG on this trip is 24.9 to-date. There is really nothing more to say, except that my wife and I love the car. Update January 2019. Best car we've ever had! Still not one problem, and we have 43,500 miles on it. It's an easy car to drive, all the high tech works perfectly. There's not much more I can say. It was the best buying decision my wife and I ever made. Oh, I should say this. My wife DID NOT want a minivan -- now she loves it!

A wonderful minivan

Joseph Friedman, 07/17/2018

2017 Kia Sedona LX 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 6A)

I purchased my Kia Sedona in 2017. It's just a great minivan. It has been operating perfectly. The safety and advanced electronic features make for a great ride. I always look forward to getting into it and driving away. I wanted a minivan that could hold all the professional gear that I need to carry with me on jobs. It has a bit less cargo space than the Dodge Grand Caravan that I …

Best Bang For The Buck For Sure

GuruND925, 10/10/2019

2019 Kia Sedona EX 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 8A)

I currently own a 2007 Toyota Sienna, it is super solid and reliable and at 160,000 is still rock solid and strong. I have been shopping around for many months and I have been taking my time studying and analysing what's out there. I made a huge mistake on the last car I purchased and I ended up paying a whooping $30K for a rinky dinky four cylinder car with a sorry CVT transmission. … I sure did not do my homework but this time I did. I didn't only study but I have gone to all my local dealers to see and test drive their vehicles, Honda, Toyota, Chrysler, Subaru, Dodge, Hyundai you name it. My wife got mad at me because I spent so much time on the computer looking at cars and watching youtube videos learning about this and that. Don't get me wrong, many SUV and minivan vehicles out there are very nice, but at the end of the day it all came down to one thing, money. From all the dealers I went to I did make them an offer and none of them were willing to give me the car at the monthly payment that I could afford, not even a lease for crying out loud, and everyone was trying to sell me their sorry base model with cloth seats, at an over priced price on top of it. The bottom line is that I ended up buying the Kia Sedona. Why?? Because it has the best package over all when it comes to beautiful look, quality, comfort, power and price and I cannot believe that the Kia dealer was able to give me the car I wanted, with leather seats, that's right baby, leather seats, at the price I was asking for. They actually gave me the Sedona brand new. I could not believe it. Look, regarding the lower gas ratings, I'm not worried or upset about it because at the end of the day I personally do not drive on the highway every day and I mostly drive around city and the much more expensive mini vans perform exactly the same in city driving so let's cut the nonsense. If you drive away long distances from the city on a highway where there is no traffic then that's a different story and that's where you would take advantage of the higher mile per gallon Pacifica, Honda and Toyota but other than that they all perform about the same in city driving. On the other hand I have saved thousands of dollars with my Kia EX and I truly got a bargain. I love my 07 Sienna and I'm not getting rid of it until that thing is unrepairable but my new Sedona smokes my 07 Sienna in every way and now my Toyota looks really old compared to my new Van. My Sedona feels like I'm driving in a Mercedes Benz, seriously. Is not perfect, is not, and Chrysler, Honda and Toyota have cars that are performing very well too. Why didn't I get the Chrysler? I really liked the ride of the Pacifica but the one thing that turned me off and made me walk away from it was that ugly round gear shifter know. That is a big no no for me and I don't buy cars with gear knobs. Sorry. And of course I did made an offer and I told the dealer my budget but it was over priced even with the lease. Why didn't I get the Honda? The Honda for me is very ugly and I simply do not like it. And same as above it was way over priced for me. Why didn't I get another fantastic reliable Toyota Sienna? Well, today's Sienna's are not like my older 2007. My mother in law has one and the thing has been falling into pieces mainly that plastic around the front seats and the plastic bumpers are really cheap and loose so I was disappointed to see that. Second the current Sienna is really ugly outside and inside and I actually like my much older Sienna than the newer ones. And same thing as above, the price is just too high for what I get. During the past 25 years I have owned Honda, Toyota, Land Rover and Subaru. The most fun car I have owned is the Land Rover hands down but they are bloody expensive to repair and drink way too much gas is a sin and nothing ever fit in the back and I always had problems with that. The honda and Toyota are reliable but they look and feel very cheap and the 2015 Subaru Forester has been the second most fun car after the land rover but with that over priced little rinky dinky strained 4 cylinder engine that burns too much oil with a CVT transmission, well, I just had to let it go recently because I simply payed way too much money for that car and that has been the worst car purchase I ever made. I am extremely happy with my new Sedona and I see this car company making better cars in the very near future. Perhaps by the time my 07 Sienna dies I do see myself replacing it with another Kia Sedona and by that time I'm sure the gas mileage will have improved and most likely the exterior of the Sedona will have a new design. Till this day I think the Sedona is the best vehicle I have purchased hands down.

BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK!!!

MisterM, 10/09/2019

2020 Kia Sedona EX 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 8A)

I have driven and own mostly Honda and Toyota vehicles. Just sold my 2015 Subaru Forester because it has a really weak four cylinder engine and burned a lot of oil so I was very disappointed. I started looking for a new vehicle so I test drove a LOT of cars and mini vans out there from Toyota, Honda, Chrysler, Hyundai, Subaru Ascent and others, you name it. I made a really bad mistake …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Kia Sedona, so we've included reviews for other years of the Sedona since its last redesign.

See all 41 reviews of the Kia Sedona

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2021 Sedona Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$30,400
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	21 MPG
Cost to Drive	$211/month
Seating	8 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	33.9 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Sedona models:

Uvo eServices: Notifies emergency services with your location in the event of a crash in which the airbags deploy.
Blind Spot Collision Warning: Lets you know if there's a car in your blind spot or if one is approaching when you're backing up.
Forward Collision Avoidance: Detects if a head-on crash is imminent and applies the brakes to avoid or mitigate the crash.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover13%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Acceptable
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2021 Kia Sedona Review

2021 Kia Sedona Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Kia Sedona LX 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

What's it like to live with?

Which Sedona does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Kia Sedona models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Kia Sedona.

Trending topics in reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

KIA Sedona is a fabulous vehicle

A wonderful minivan

Best Bang For The Buck For Sure

BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK!!!

2021 Sedona Highlights

Safety

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Related Used 2021 Kia Sedona info

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2021 Kia Sedona Review

2021 Kia Sedona Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Kia Sedona LX 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.

What's it like to live with?

Which Sedona does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Kia Sedona models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

KIA Sedona is a fabulous vehicle

A wonderful minivan

Best Bang For The Buck For Sure

BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK!!!

2021 Sedona Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Related Used 2021 Kia Sedona info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop similar models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Kia

Research similar vehicles

Other models

Join Edmunds

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Kia Sedona LX 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}